Why can't MCPS get it together like the other MD school districts?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.

[Anonymous]

LOL - the school calendar fight is between the labor unions and the small business owners it has zero to do with education or what parents want.

In fact, I have never met a parent that cares whether school starts before or after labor. What parents hate with a passion are all the random days off, half days and months with broken up weeks in the MCPS calendar. People want to be able to plan for effective childcare and take family vacations which the MCPS calendar does not support. Other counties did pretty well with either the week before or week after in establishing rationale calendars that gave a reasonable spring break and weren't closed all the time for random things.

From a learning perspective, there is zero evidence that one week makes a hoot of difference. Year-round school and intensive after care programs for failing kids -yes this makes a difference but starting a week early? Nope.

On the political front, the way this all works in Annapolis is that MoCo was the driving force behind getting control of its calendar back. MoCo reps make deals with other counties for their votes. I'd be more worried about what MoCo owes the other reps now than whether the school year starts before or after Labor Day.

It would be nice if MCEAA and MCPS put as much energy into actually educating kids, getting more funding, or improving school safety as they have in getting their calendar back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are so many things wrong with your post, I don't even know where to begin. Do you have any evidence that the post-Labor day start time is improving the Maryland economy? My impression is that it's simply lining the pockets of a tiny set of businesses who are reliable Hogan donors. Why are those businesses so much more important than other Maryland businesses that the school calendar is designed around them? How do you balance any potential benefit to the Maryland economy (for which there is no evidence that I've seen) against the lack of instructional time high school students get relative to their peers across the country who start school in August, yet take the same AP exams in May (and roughly 75% of high school students in MoCo do take at least 1 AP exam?) Why don't you provide some actual proof that the schedule constraints that Hogan places that you're so passionate about are actually beneficial?

Most of the country starts after Labor Day and there is no correlation between start dates and AP test scores. None

Most kids that score a 4/5 do it because they studied on their own. My kids took them. There is more learning at home then in the class. Most teachers haven’t got a clue how to teach a college course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL - the school calendar fight is between the labor unions and the small business owners it has zero to do with education or what parents want.

In fact, I have never met a parent that cares whether school starts before or after labor. What parents hate with a passion are all the random days off, half days and months with broken up weeks in the MCPS calendar. People want to be able to plan for effective childcare and take family vacations which the MCPS calendar does not support. Other counties did pretty well with either the week before or week after in establishing rationale calendars that gave a reasonable spring break and weren't closed all the time for random things.

From a learning perspective, there is zero evidence that one week makes a hoot of difference. Year-round school and intensive after care programs for failing kids -yes this makes a difference but starting a week early? Nope.

On the political front, the way this all works in Annapolis is that MoCo was the driving force behind getting control of its calendar back. MoCo reps make deals with other counties for their votes. I'd be more worried about what MoCo owes the other reps now than whether the school year starts before or after Labor Day.

It would be nice if MCEAA and MCPS put as much energy into actually educating kids, getting more funding, or improving school safety as they have in getting their calendar back.

You must not know many parents, and should get out more. I do know many many parents who hate the shortened spring break and that their kids aren't getting enough time to prepare for AP exams in May. But Ocean City tourism dollars trumps our kids' education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are so many things wrong with your post, I don't even know where to begin. Do you have any evidence that the post-Labor day start time is improving the Maryland economy? My impression is that it's simply lining the pockets of a tiny set of businesses who are reliable Hogan donors. Why are those businesses so much more important than other Maryland businesses that the school calendar is designed around them? How do you balance any potential benefit to the Maryland economy (for which there is no evidence that I've seen) against the lack of instructional time high school students get relative to their peers across the country who start school in August, yet take the same AP exams in May (and roughly 75% of high school students in MoCo do take at least 1 AP exam?) Why don't you provide some actual proof that the schedule constraints that Hogan places that you're so passionate about are actually beneficial?

Most of the country starts after Labor Day and there is no correlation between start dates and AP test scores. None

Most kids that score a 4/5 do it because they studied on their own. My kids took them. There is more learning at home then in the class. Most teachers haven’t got a clue how to teach a college course.

Has anyone studied it and found there's no correlation? I've never seen a study. But the Atlantic article posted above noted:

In Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan’s new directive that schools start after Labor Day—beginning with the forthcoming academic year—was
intended to be a boost to both the local economy and the environment (by cutting down on use of air-conditioning in schools). But it was
also met with criticism that it usurped local control over public education.

Silva, who’s conducted extensive research into how schools use learning time, said Maryland’s new policy will make it tougher for many
districts that don’t have waivers to meet the state’s existing requirement for 180 school days, each with more than six hours of instruction.

“Now it's just going to be crammed into a smaller window with shorter breaks, fewer planning days for teachers, and working parents more
desperate for summer child care,” said Silva, a Maryland resident. “Parents complain about too much homework and testing but part of this
is because schools and teachers are pressured into fitting too much into a small box. Broaden the box, spread it out, and there will be more
space for real learning to happen.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.

Does anyone with half a brain actually realize that when MCPS starts a week early, by the time they get to May for the tests, they would have been in school the SAME EXACT amount of time if they started a week later. We are talking a 4 day difference that with the earlier schedule and there is 3 full days off for marking period grades, occasional EID, and usually a longer Spring Break.

But even schools that start in early to mid Aug do not have higher scores. The reality is most fail across the country, unless they teach themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
LOL - the school calendar fight is between the labor unions and the small business owners it has zero to do with education or what parents want.

In fact, I have never met a parent that cares whether school starts before or after labor. What parents hate with a passion are all the random days off, half days and months with broken up weeks in the MCPS calendar. People want to be able to plan for effective childcare and take family vacations which the MCPS calendar does not support. Other counties did pretty well with either the week before or week after in establishing rationale calendars that gave a reasonable spring break and weren't closed all the time for random things.

From a learning perspective, there is zero evidence that one week makes a hoot of difference. Year-round school and intensive after care programs for failing kids -yes this makes a difference but starting a week early? Nope.

On the political front, the way this all works in Annapolis is that MoCo was the driving force behind getting control of its calendar back. MoCo reps make deals with other counties for their votes. I'd be more worried about what MoCo owes the other reps now than whether the school year starts before or after Labor Day.

It would be nice if MCEAA and MCPS put as much energy into actually educating kids, getting more funding, or improving school safety as they have in getting their calendar back.

You must not know many parents, and should get out more. I do know many many parents who hate the shortened spring break and that their kids aren't getting enough time to prepare for AP exams in May. But Ocean City tourism dollars trumps our kids' education.

You just made my point. Families hate the shortened spring break they don't care whether school starts before or labor. MCPS deliberately set up the calendar to shorten spring break under the Hogan order to make people unhappy. It was stupid because other counties have a normal spring break. MCPS could give up some of the professional days and religious one day holidays to achieve a normal winter and spring break that starts after labor or before Labor Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.


Does anyone with half a brain actually realize that when MCPS starts a week early, by the time they get to May for the tests, they would have been in school the SAME EXACT amount of time if they started a week later. We are talking a 4 day difference that with the earlier schedule and there is 3 full days off for marking period grades, occasional EID, and usually a longer Spring Break.

But even schools that start in early to mid Aug do not have higher scores. The reality is most fail across the country, unless they teach themselves.

The people passionately fighting for the school calendar control do not have even half a brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.

Does anyone with half a brain actually realize that when MCPS starts a week early, by the time they get to May for the tests, they would have been in school the SAME EXACT amount of time if they started a week later. We are talking a 4 day difference that with the earlier schedule and there is 3 full days off for marking period grades, occasional EID, and usually a longer Spring Break.

But even schools that start in early to mid Aug do not have higher scores. The reality is most fail across the country, unless they teach themselves.

Most people with half a brain realize that breaks are good for kids. They get down-time and time to absorb material. To actually analyze the effect of the start date, you would need to look at the link between test scores and start dates, while also controlling for demographics. I don't think anyone has done that. But someone who insists that kids are teaching themselves wouldn't understand that.

[Anonymous]

I am curious. Why do teachers need planning days? Aren’t they supposed to grade and plan before/during/after school. Most high school teachers teach 4-5 max periods in an 8 period day. The school day is only 6.25-6.75 hours long. So that gives you another 1-2 hours on top of your free periods before you even hit a full 8 hour workday.

I can’t remember ever working an 8 hours in one day. Most salaried employees work 8.5-10 hours.

I guess I just don’t see why they should have days off for planning. They literally have every holiday and break and summer off. Plenty of off days to plan if you can’t manage your time weekly. Many people catch up at home and on weekends too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL - the school calendar fight is between the labor unions and the small business owners it has zero to do with education or what parents want.

In fact, I have never met a parent that cares whether school starts before or after labor. What parents hate with a passion are all the random days off, half days and months with broken up weeks in the MCPS calendar. People want to be able to plan for effective childcare and take family vacations which the MCPS calendar does not support. Other counties did pretty well with either the week before or week after in establishing rationale calendars that gave a reasonable spring break and weren't closed all the time for random things.

From a learning perspective, there is zero evidence that one week makes a hoot of difference. Year-round school and intensive after care programs for failing kids -yes this makes a difference but starting a week early? Nope.

On the political front, the way this all works in Annapolis is that MoCo was the driving force behind getting control of its calendar back. MoCo reps make deals with other counties for their votes. I'd be more worried about what MoCo owes the other reps now than whether the school year starts before or after Labor Day.

It would be nice if MCEAA and MCPS put as much energy into actually educating kids, getting more funding, or improving school safety as they have in getting their calendar back.

You must not know many parents, and should get out more. I do know many many parents who hate the shortened spring break and that their kids aren't getting enough time to prepare for AP exams in May. But Ocean City tourism dollars trumps our kids' education.

If the school year starts the Monday or Tuesday before Labor Day, please tell me how many extra days the kids will be in school learning the material before their AP exam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
LOL - the school calendar fight is between the labor unions and the small business owners it has zero to do with education or what parents want.

In fact, I have never met a parent that cares whether school starts before or after labor. What parents hate with a passion are all the random days off, half days and months with broken up weeks in the MCPS calendar. People want to be able to plan for effective childcare and take family vacations which the MCPS calendar does not support. Other counties did pretty well with either the week before or week after in establishing rationale calendars that gave a reasonable spring break and weren't closed all the time for random things.

From a learning perspective, there is zero evidence that one week makes a hoot of difference. Year-round school and intensive after care programs for failing kids -yes this makes a difference but starting a week early? Nope.

On the political front, the way this all works in Annapolis is that MoCo was the driving force behind getting control of its calendar back. MoCo reps make deals with other counties for their votes. I'd be more worried about what MoCo owes the other reps now than whether the school year starts before or after Labor Day.

It would be nice if MCEAA and MCPS put as much energy into actually educating kids, getting more funding, or improving school safety as they have in getting their calendar back.

You must not know many parents, and should get out more. I do know many many parents who hate the shortened spring break and that their kids aren't getting enough time to prepare for AP exams in May. But Ocean City tourism dollars trumps our kids' education.

You just made my point. Families hate the shortened spring break they don't care whether school starts before or labor. MCPS deliberately set up the calendar to shorten spring break under the Hogan order to make people unhappy. It was stupid because other counties have a normal spring break. MCPS could give up some of the professional days and religious one day holidays to achieve a normal winter and spring break that starts after labor or before Labor Day.

+1

Or finish after June 15th like Howard County is doing. Hogan gave the extension. I think Frederick too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.

Does anyone with half a brain actually realize that when MCPS starts a week early, by the time they get to May for the tests, they would have been in school the SAME EXACT amount of time if they started a week later. We are talking a 4 day difference that with the earlier schedule and there is 3 full days off for marking period grades, occasional EID, and usually a longer Spring Break.

But even schools that start in early to mid Aug do not have higher scores. The reality is most fail across the country, unless they teach themselves.

Most people with half a brain realize that breaks are good for kids. They get down-time and time to absorb material. To actually analyze the effect of the start date, you would need to look at the link between test scores and start dates, while also controlling for demographics. I don't think anyone has done that. But someone who insists that kids are teaching themselves wouldn't understand that.

LOL.

Oh, so now that you realize there are no actual extra instructional days, we are moving on to “kids need more days off to process the information” to get a better AP score. I didn’t realize they were all home processing things on their random days off. Gotcha!

Oh and I guess families with ES kids should pay for daycare those extra days - so high schoolers who may be taking AP’s can process the material. Seems fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone analyzed AP score performance for kids who start before vs. after labor day? Because losing weeks of instructional time is not peanuts.

Does anyone with half a brain actually realize that when MCPS starts a week early, by the time they get to May for the tests, they would have been in school the SAME EXACT amount of time if they started a week later. We are talking a 4 day difference that with the earlier schedule and there is 3 full days off for marking period grades, occasional EID, and usually a longer Spring Break.

But even schools that start in early to mid Aug do not have higher scores. The reality is most fail across the country, unless they teach themselves.

+1

The need more days for the AP exam rationale makes no sense. They are still in school the same amount of days by mid May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. They need to get it together like Baltimore City. Oh, wait.

Or most of the other districts that aren’t Howard or Frederick. People in MoCo have no clue what it is really like to teach in or attend public school in most of Maryland.